Detroit Auto Show

Buick has been trying to capture a younger demographic and add some excitement to its brand for quite some time. With Tiger Woods in the doghouse and no hip celebrity endorser, what's one to do to reinvigorate a brand that never seems to produce cars on anyone's wish list? Well, that my friends, is where the new Buick Regal GS Concept comes into play. While GM has not given the green light for production, this car looks pretty much ready to go. Most of the major components are already being cranked out anyway. And with so many detailed specs available, this alone leads us to believe it is a shoe-in for showrooms.

Of course, the mass-market Regal CXL models will probably get a fair head start (this summer) before the GS drops, but we'll wait patiently. The Regal GS is based on the Opel Insignia OPC, the model's high-performance variant, which sports a turbo V6 good for 325 horsepower. But given that the Regal platform will use the same 2.0-liter EcoTec four-banger of which we've become quite familiar, GM's engineers had to put on their tuning hats. As such, the reworked GS engine will reportedly pump out 260 horsepower. That's a nice number but it's really the 295 lb-ft of torque that raised our brows along with the fact that a six-speed manual will be offered.

The Mini Beachcomber Concept made its debut at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show today and made a big impression. Featuring an all-wheel drive powertrain, the Beachcomber is a throwback to the original Mini Moke sans doors and roof.

Some of you may remember the Moke (based on the ancient dialect name "donkey") or may even have driven one while on vacation in the Caribbean, where these cars are used as beach buggies. That said, the original design was for a lightweight military vehicle, but somehow key essentials like ground clearance and appropriate tires were missing from the equation. It was therefore relegated to work duty as as cheap, utility vehicle with production beginning in 1964 and running through 1993.

After the long wait, the new 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe is finally here and it is an absolute beast. Looking like it just ate your neighbor's M3, with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine putting out 556 horsepower and 551 ft-lb of torque, it can probably dominate anything in your local municipality (unless you live in Newport Beach).

This is the most powerful engine Cadillac has ever offered in a production car and propels the vehicle from 0-60 mph in just 3.9 seconds. Transmission options include a Tremac dual-disc six-speed manual and a Hydra-Matic six-speed automatic with paddle shifters. The official introductions will comes next week at the 2010 North American International Auto Show taking place in Detroit.

The hybrid vehicle has generated a frenzy of consumers in favor of a more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly method of transportation. This type of car is comprised of some of the most advanced transportation technologies manufactured for the average consumer. BYD, “Build You Dreams”, is a Chinese battery manufacturer, which has been on the leading edge of technology for hybrid-electric cars since 1995. Recent innovative technologies within BYD Auto have led to a safer and more efficient Iron-Phosphate Battery. The Fe-Battery and BYD may perhaps shortly answer the question, “How soon will we be driving electric vehicles?”

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The "Cadillac of electric vehicles" is currently being previewed at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. The quote comes from Bob Lutz during his unveiling of their new alternative energy coupe. The Cadillac Converj uses the same drivetrain as the Chevrolet Volt but puts the company's upscale and more aggresive aesthethic into good use. The Converj is a plug-in that takes about 3 hours to fully charge on a  240 volt line and 8 hours on a 120 volt line. 

When battery energy is drained, the Converj turns on its extended range mode, which relies on a flex-fuel engine. This is actually a power generator that provides a steady supply of electricity for hundreds of miles until refueling or recharging. This feature actually eliminates the "range anxiety" associated with electric-only vehicles with no reserve power. People still are nervous about not being able to rely on the nearest gas station. 

Fisker unveiled their hybrid hardtop convertible concept this week at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Not yet a household name, but gaining some serious notoriety, the company is an up-and-coming manufacturer of green sports cars. The Fisker Karma S concept is a four-seater with serious flair.

The convertible shares many similarities with the standard Karma but deletes two doors and provides a drop-top. There is a misconception that Fisker makes full-on electric cars and is a Tesla wanna-be but this is just not true. The car has it's own niche of sorts with a mix of a 2.0-liter engine, generator and electric motors. The 4-cylinder GM EcoTec engine is turbocharged and good for 260 hp. But it's the hybrid technology that sets it apart.

The new 2009 Jaguar XKR introduces a new 5-liter V8 engine that puts out 510bhp and 461 lb-ft. The latest generation Roots-type supercharger is both more efficient than the previous version as well as whisper quiet. 0 to 60 can be performed in 4.6 seconds. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on your driving chops and if you live near a public track, it's electronically limited to 155 mph. 

The transmission is an electronically controlled, 6-speed gearbox whose control comes in the form of either steering wheel paddle shifters or the fully automatic JaguarDrive SelectorTM. The driver can choose between several driving modes. For example, Dynamic Mode provides more of a sports car response and limits body roll while Winter Mode dampens accelerator response and softens gearshifts.